Me neither. From a United perspective, assuming he's not too disheartened by his omission, it could be an advantage for us at the start of the season as he'll be well rested and get a full pre season.

Spain have such ridiculous options to think Mata might not even go.

Navas will go because Del Bosque likes him, and he offers something different. You could also make a case for Cazorla staying behind, who has been really disappointing this season, but it's unlikely as he's a favourite of Del Boy's.

Negredo has faded but I imagine he'll still go. Torres shouldn't be anywhere near the team. I hope Villa goes. He's been decent this season and I think he's still the most reliable option up top in a Spain shirt - Costa hasn't proven anything yet in this team.

Yes, Bosque has his favourites - and he has earned it.

After all, he is taking Xavi. Hodgson is not in Bosque's league but dropping Cole took balls and is very similar to Bosque dropping Xavi

Xavi will win player of the tournament.

Nah...

Xavi was very average at the Euros, he would be poor at the WC.

I love the player but his time is up. I don't see him putting in seven spectacular performances that would see Spain make the final.

Then again, looking at the reservoir of talent Spain has, he might not have to!

Nah I'm kidding. I think he'll be better than he was at the confeds, though.

I still live in the hope that Xavi still has something left in him to make a mark in his farwell tournament, but that's all it is, hope, no real belief. In more objective terms, it seems to me that he's gone from being the catalyst of Spain's game to being a major weak link. And I cannot for the life of me see DelBoy not starting him if he's available. Imo, it's far too late anyway to start testing other alternatives, so I really think our title defence is destined for failure. In fact, I am worried that we might not even get out of our group.

As for Atleti's striker for next season, I have the growing feeling it's gonna be Torres.

ioag, yeah I think you could be right. I base it on hope, and the hope he's not as physically and mentally fatigued as in the confeds, more than anything.

Alonso will be in the team, though, and I think you missed him last summer. If Del Boy was smart he could use Xavi sparingly as to hopefully get the maximum out of him, but I have a feeling he'll play him for 90 mins every game.

Torres

They aren't that stupid.

Torres? Torres?

I know Simeone is developing a reputation for getting the best out of his players but Torres is a lost cause!

It really is sad to see the sharp terminal decline of Torres. Has a footballer ever had such a drop on this level before that wasn't age-related?

Antonio Valencia

Nah, Valencia was never in Torres' league.

Torres was a bonafide world class player and in 18 months with Gerrard was arguably Europe's most frightening partnership.

Valencia was always limited. Granted, he made the most of his limited talent for a season and a bit but he has essentially been rumbled.

Torres? Please don't give me injuries. Watching him sometimes, it seems as if he has forgotten how to play football.

Torres was always overrated. He got found out after he lost his pace.

Torres hit a sweet spot for a couple of seasons when he landed in the PL. He was never as good at Atleti as his Liverpool form suggested, but he was never as bad as his Chelsea form either.

The media here have been careful to portray a sweetened view of his time at Chelsea, they've never really reflected the laughing stock he's become in the PL. Add that semifinal goal against Barça and the one against Atletico, and a lot of people still think he's actually quite decent.

Add to that the fact that he's still an Atletico idol and has carried the Atletico flag in every victory celebration he's been a part of, and in many fans' eyes he looks like the prodigal son.

RC makes a good point about Simeone not being a mug, that could be Atleti's saving grace, but he's still got to convince a lot of people it isn't worth bringing him back.

Also, 5.1M for Villa can be seen as a bargain, but that's about his worth nowadays, and even that at a push. He hasn't really set the world alight.

Atleti's good fortune with their striker signings is bound to run out sooner rather than later imo.

and a lot of people still think he's actually quite decent.
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Interesting points. I think the adoration of Torres is the only reason that the transfer is being mooted. I do not for a second believe they'd seriously consider him as a replacement for Costa.

I'm intrigued to see what they do in the market. With the Costa money, and potentially money from winning the CL and/or La Liga, they have big funds going their way.

Not too sure exactly what their financial situations is, though. Think they'll spend big or look for bargains again?

Good question. Given their apalling financial state, I was hugely surprised when they splashed nearly all of the cash from the Aguero sale on Falcao, but the gamble paid off. I'm not sure either what their net transfers were that year, so maybe they made a lot more than what Falcao brought in, I don't know.

Back to the current situation though, I'd imagine they'd need to set aside an important part of their income for debt repayment, and also that they really must make the most of the current money cow to avoid perpetuating the problem, but they've also shown plenty of ambition, so it's going to be interesting to see.

If they go about it wisely, they might be able to make a good profit without weakening their team, as they've got players such as Leo Baptistao and Oliver Torres out on loan and who might be ready to step up next season, although I'm not sure how they'd fit in the current side.

Yep gonna be an interesting summer for Atleti.

I think if they can strike a balance between spending a fair bit but paying off the debts it'll have a better long term effect than trying to do everything on the cheap.

I say this not so much in terms of how it'll effect them getting into the CL again, but how they'll actually do again in the CL if they've not got sufficient quality.

They need to keep getting out of the group stage to maintain a high coefficient as well as earning extra money for getting to the ko rounds - I think you get at least an extra ten million for getting to the second round, or something like that.

If you look at it that way there could be better long term effects from spending, if their debt repayments allow it that is.

Provisional Spain squad:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, David de Gea.

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Raul Albiol, Juanfran, Jordi Alba, Daniel Carvajal, Alberto Moreno, Cesar Azpilicueta & Javi Martinez

Midfielders: Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta, Koke, Busquets, Cazorla, Iturraspe, Fabregas, Thiago, Mata, Silva.

Forwards: Pedro, Navas, Diego Costa, Villa, Torres, Negredo, Llorente.

Haven't had time to look closely, but at a glance I can't see any real surprises there. I was pretty sure DDG would be our third keeper.

Not surprised by the list, though I thought Thiago was going to be injured.

7 to get binned, not sure when it's finalised.

Thiago's back in full training I think, I'm glad he's on the list as there were doubts due to his injury.

That said though, I'd be quite surprised if he did make the final 23, but I don't think it would make much of a difference anyway as I haven't seen much indication that Del Boy might actually give him significant game time.

I was reading that many were tipping Thiago to go due to his form with Bayern.

I guess we'll see. Wonderful options to have.

An embarrassment of riches.

Still, they have got nothing on The Three Lions

No Isco and Illaramendi. RM killing talent

comment by The_Red_Cognoscente (U9741)
posted 4 minutes ago
An embarrassment of riches.

Still, they have got nothing on The Three Lions
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Someone said earlier on another thread that Torres was Spain's Darius Vassel. Sort of sums up the difference.

And we're not killing talent, we're nurturing it patiently, as is our nature.

Vassell was a huge global star, don't you know?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCtsxzXBKg

They thought he was the Vaseline delivery man.